While searching for Damon Ruynon's rankings I came across this rare and seldom talked about computer simulation. Charles R. Saunders (1978-1979) Boxing Illustrated's Computer Heavyweight Tournament Round 1: Joe Louis KO9 Sam McVey Jess Willard KO6 Cleveland Williams Max Baer KO5 Ernie Terrell Peter Jackson KO3 Jimmy Ellis Sonny Liston KO2 Bill Brennan Paolino Uzcuden KO8 Ingemar Johansson John L. Sullivan KO5 Roland LaStarza Tony Galento KO8 Ken Norton Gene Tunney W10 Archie Moore Jimmy Young KO4 Joe Choynski Muhammad Ali KO9 Luther McCarty Joe Jeannette KO6 Luis Firpo Jack Dempsey TKO4 Buddy Baer Harry Wills W10 Ron Lyle Jim Corbett D10/KO5 Marvin Hart Zora Folley W10 Jersey Joe Walcott Jack Johnson KO3 Jimmy Bivins Tom Sharkey KO8 Georges Carpentier Rocky Marciano W10 George Chuvalo Mickey Walker W10 Bob Fitzsimmons Max Schmeling KO5 Jerry Quarry Philadelphia Jack O'Brien KO3 Bob Satterfield Jim Jeffries KO8 Eddie Machen Sam Langford TKO7 Bob Pastor Ezzard Charles W10 Billy Conn George Foreman TKO 3 Arturo Godoy Joe Frazier TKO8 Tommy Farr Jack Sharkey W10 Oscar Bonavena Tommy Gibbons W10 Jim Braddock Tommy Burns W10 Jake Kilrain Tommy Loughran W10 Floyd Patterson Billy Miske W10 Primo Carnera Round 2: Joe Louis KO4 Jess Willard Peter Jackson W10 Max Baer Sonny Liston W10 Paolino Uzcuden John L. Sullivan KO2 Tony Galento Gene Tunney W10 Jimmy Young Muhammad Ali W10 Joe Jeannette Jack Dempsey TKO7 Harry Wills Jim Corbett TKO9 Zora Folley Jack Johnson KO7 Tom Sharkey Rocky Marciano KO1 Mickey Walker Max Schmeling KO7 Philadelphia Jack O'Brien Jim Jeffries KO6 Sam Langford Ezzard Charles W10 Tommy Gibbons George Foreman TKO 3 Billy Miske Joe Frazier W10 Tommy Loughran Jack Sharkey KO10 Tommy Burns Round 3: Rocky Marciano TKO7 Sonny Liston Jack Dempsey TKO3 Ezzard Charles Gene Tunney KO5 Max Schmeling Peter Jackson KO10 John L. Sullivan Joe Louis TKO6 Joe Frazier Jim Jeffries KO6 George Foreman Muhammad Ali KO9 Jack Sharkey Jack Johnson TKO10 Jim Corbett Quarters: Muhammad Ali D12/W12 Gene Tunney Jack Johnson W12 Rocky Marciano Joe Louis TKO7 Peter Jackson Jack Dempsey TKO12 Jim Jeffries Round Robin Final (3 pts for KO win, 2 pts for decision win, 1 point for draw): Muhammad Ali W15 Jack Johnson Joe Louis KO9 Jack Dempsey Muhammad Ali W15 Jack Dempsey Jack Johnson KO5 Joe Louis Joe Louis v. Muhammad Ali ? Jack Dempsey v. Jack Johnson ? ***I don't have the final issue (Feb. '79)*** archived, so sorry I don't know the winner!
World Boxing / International Boxing did one of these, a "computer tournament" in 1977. I think the final was Ali-Marciano, with Ali winning, if I recall correctly. Theirs featured a smaller field than this one. I kinda question whether WB / IB actually used a computer. How did they get the access & do the programming? I'm betting they hashed it out in discussions between the writers. This one's interesting. I didn't remember Boxing Illustrated running one.
Go Jack! If Johnson knocks out Jack Dempsey in fifteen rounds, he becomes the undisputed World Champion of all time. Would make a nice change from the usual Ali/Louis victories in these things. Great effort in the tournament from Peter Jackson and Gene Tunney also. I enjoyed reading those results even if they obviously mean literally nothing.
Tunney KO5 Schmeling?? Johnson KO5 Louis?? But anyway, most of the results seem believable. I place not an ounce of stock in these things, mainly because the data fed into the computer is by a human, who is subject to error and bias. I cannot remember who did it, but it was reported either in KO or World Boxing that a fight between Tyson and Holyfield was simulated when Tyson was in jail. According to the computer, Tyson won 96% of the time, or better than 9/10 times. Basically, Holyfield could not win. Reality proved otherwise.
